Extension shelf for desks



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,387

J. A. FITCH EXTENSION SHELF FOR DESKS Original Filed Aug. 16. 1924 2 sheets -sheet 1 Jason/mick a 7 b abfo'umq 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1928.

J. A. FITCH EXTENSION SHELF FOR DESKS Original Filed Aug. 16. 1924 Patented Nov. 13, 1928. p v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASON A. FITCH, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOB- TO THE GENERAL FIBEPBDOI ING' COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

EEXTENSION SHELF FOB DESKS.

Application filed August 18, 1924, Serial No. 732,487. Renewed Kay 10, 1928.

This invention relates to extension shelves for desks, tables or the like, and more articularly to a novel noiseless sliding-s elf construction especially adapted for use in connection with metal furniture.

Heretofore, the sliding back and forth of extension shelves in desks, especially metal desks, has been attended with annoying noise incident to the shock or jar of the shelf being quickly thrust back to the end of its guideway. In metal desks the objectionable noise incident to this shifting in and out of the slide is more objectionable because of the more resonant characteristics of metal and furthermore, in metal desks the shock is likely to be greater when the shelf is quickly pushed in due to the fact that. metal shelves slide with greater freedom in their guideways and consequently strike the rear end of the guide with force. In places where many metal desks are used the frequent shifting of the extension slide becomes annoying and frequently objectionable.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a novel construction especially adapted for slides used on metal desks, which will cushion the shock or jar incident to the movement of the slide and render its manipulation practically noiseless under all conditions of use. In that connection the invention aims to eliminate abutments so arranged as to transmit or increase the sound of the shock, and provide a novel yielding abutment which is so positioned and supported as to not only cushion the movement of the slide but also render the impact of the shock imperceptible.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and practical constructions for carrying out the objects above outlined.

Preferred and practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section-a1 view of a metal desk equipped with an extension slide, the latter being in its closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the slide extended.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a. vertical cross sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of slide cushloning means.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Flgure 6 is a bottom plan view of'the slide shown in Figure 4.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As shown in the drawings, the reference character D represents the usual metal desk top having therebeneath a guideway G for. receiving an extension shelf or slide S. This shelf is also preferably of metal, and in accordance with the usual custom, is positioned directly beneath the desk top D so as to be conveniently pulled out from the front edge of the desk when it is desired to use the same, and on the other hand when not in use, the slide is intended to be pushed rearwardly into the guideway.

According to the present invention it will be observed that the guideway G is not necessarily provided with any abutments or obstructions for the rear end of the slide S to engage with thereby eliminating noise incident to the moving slide engaging with such abutment.

In the form of embodiment shown in Figure 1 it is proposed to equip the slide S with the front and rear abutment lugs 1 and 2 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to the metal shelf S and are preferably relatively thin strips of angled metal attached approximately at the longitudinal center of the shelf. These pendant lugs or abutments 1 and 2 are intended to cooperate with a cushioning abutment 3, which in the example shown, is preferably a coil spring whose hooked ends 4-4 are attached to the perforated upstanding arms 5-5 carried by a strip 6. This strip is in turn secured to the desk frame in any convenient and suitable manner.

When the desk slide is pulled outwardly as shown in Figure 2 the rear pendant abutment 2 will engage the spring 3 and prevent the slide from being withdrawn from the guide, and at the same time the engagement of the lug 2 with the spring 3 will be practically noiseless. Likewise when theslide or shelf S is pushed inwardly, the pendant abutment 1 on the shelf will engage the coil spring 3 and the consequent impact of the lu 1 and spring 3 results in little or no noise thereby eliminating the objectionable banging usually incident to the manipulation of such slides.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings wherein the slide S is rovided at its underside with pendant lugs l (see Fig. 5) which lugs receive and carry the coil springs 8. The hooked ends of these springs are passed through perforations in the members 7, thereby convenientlv holding the same in place. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the said springs may be provided with a rubber, fabric, or equivalent covering 9 which serves to eliminate even the slight click heard when the bare metal abutments 1 and 2 engage with the spring 3 in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3. In that connection, however, it will of course be understood that the rubber or fabric coverin can be used in connection with the spring s own in Figures 1 and 3 without in any way changing the operation or functioning of that form of the invention.

From Figure 4 it will be observed that the spaced apart sheathed springs 8 carried by the underside of the shelf S are adapted to engage with an upstanding abutment 10 located adjacent the front edge of the guideway G. This abutment may be formed in any suitable and convenient manner, such for example as by placing a pair of angle clips back to back as shown in Figure 4.

In all forms of the invention it will be apparent,that there'is provided a pair of spaced apart slide or shelf carried abutments adapted to cooperate with a single abutment located in the path ofmovement of the slide, either the slide carried abutment orthe desk carried abutment being formed of a spring or equivalent resilient member which absorbs the impact or shock incident to the inward or out ward movement of the desk slide. In practice the invention has resulted in making a noiseless desk slide which has served to efficiently eliminate objectionable and unnecessary noise.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A noiseless stop construction for slidable furniture members adapted to slide in a guideway, comprising spaced abutments carried by the slidable member and a fixed abutment located in the guideway, one of said abutments being a yielding member and all of said abutments being located within the length of the slidable member.

2. A stop construction for desk slides comprising a pair of spaced abutments carried by the underside of the slide, and a coiled s ring supported in the path of movement 0 said abutments and adapted to alternately'engage the same.

3. A stop construction for desk slides comrising a pair of spaced abutments carried y the underside of the slide, and a cushioning member mounted in the path of movement of the slide and adapted to be engaged by said abutments.

4. A stop construction for desk slides comprising a pair of spaced abutments carried by the under side of the slide, and a spring mounted transversely of the path of movement of the slide and placed under initial tension thereby to absorb the impact of said abutments.

5. A stop construction for slidable furniture members consisting of'a coiled spring under tension mounted transversel of the path of movement of said slidable urniture member, and a bumping post adapted to engage the said spring.

6. A stop construction for slidin metal extension shelves consisting of relatively fixed and movable members adapted to engage to limit the movement of the shelf, and one of said members being a coiled spring under tension positioned transversely with reference to the path of movement of the other member.

7. A stop construction for desk slides and the like including relatively fixed and movable members adapted to engage to limit the movement of the slide, one of said members being a ielding metallic member, and means carried by said yielding metallic member to eliminate the sound of the impact of an abutment therewith.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JASON A. FITCH. 

